Molded headpiece with means for restricting the crown rim

ABSTRACT

A molded headpiece having a crown with a series of slits or recesses extending upwardly from the edge of the crown and a crown-restricting adjustable band encircling the crown adjacent to the edge thereof for causing the contour of the crown and its edge to conform more closely to the contour of the average head. The headpieces or caps when unrestricted by the bands can be better nested for occupying less space for storage or shipment without complete forfeiture of the desired contours.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James S. Massa 5677 Cabot Drive, Oakland, Calif. 94611 [21] Appl. No. 3,774

[22] Filed Jan. 19, 1970 [45] Patented Jan.4, 1972 [54] MOLDED HEADPIECE WITH MEANS FOR RESTRICTING THE CROWN RIM 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl. 2/3 R, 2/ 197 [51] Int. Cl A42b1/08, A42b 1/22 [50] Field of Search 2/197, 183, 185,198, 3 R,5,6, 195, 7, 8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,409 4/1918 Tim 2/197 1,501,654 7/1924 Fischer 2/197 1,540,345 6/1925 Kowasik 2/3 R 1,660,375 2/1928 Dieterle 2/3 R 2,106,570 1/1938 Lipton.... 2/19'1 3,315,273 4/1967 Bullard... 2/3 R 3,409,910 11/1968 Massa 2/183 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,060,567 3/1967 Great Britain 2/6 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Att0mey-William R. Piper ABSTRACT: A molded headpiece having a crown with a series of slits or recesses extending upwardly from the edge of the crown and a crown-restricting adjustable band encircling the crown adjacent to the edge thereof for causing the contour of the crown and its edge to conform more closely to the contour of the average head. The headpieces or caps when unrestricted by the bands can be better nested for occupying less space for storage or shipment without complete forfeiture of the desired contours.

PATENTEBJAN M972 3531.539

INVENTOR.

JAMES S. MASSA ATTORNEY MOLDED IIEADIIECE WITI-I MEANS FOR RESTRICTING THE CROWN RIM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A semirigid/one-piece shell-type molded cap designed to protect the head of the wearer. The edge and sides of the crown, because of inherent restrictions imposed by the molding process, cannot be inversely molded and, therefore, in many cases relevant to size complexities the crown edge extends too far away from the adjacent portion of the head when the cap is worn. I have provided novel means for constricting the crown rim and sides by first providing a series of slits or recesses ascending from the crown edge and then encircling the crown with an adjustable band that can have its effective length shortened for constricting the crown adjacent to its edge. The resultant effect both reduces the cap circumference and alters the cap contour voluntarily to more closely fit a greater number of different head sizes and more normally follow the contour of the average head.

2. Description of the Prior Art The patents to Frederick B. Probst, U.S. Pat. No. 2,010,1070, and Julius Carlson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,156,251, disclose hats with head-size-adjusting means, but both have flap portions that overlap and, thus, the thickness of the hat is increased at the overlapping portions. One of the novel features of the present invention is that adjustment of the size of the crown of the cap adjacent to the edge of the crown can be al tered to shape the contour of the crown to better fit the wearers head and there is no overlapping of any portion of the crown.

The patents to Joseph W. Henschel, U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,769, and Louis Scherz, U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,137, show caps with adjustable crowns, but again both patents include overlapping portions in the crown. Molded-type headpieces cannot have overlapping portions and of necessity are made oversized since' they cannot be adjusted to any given headsize or shape. An inner and separate head-conforming band of the type shown in my patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,910, attains a stable and specific size adjustment while the outer band allows a closer conformity to that of the inner band not normally attainable in molded-type caps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of my invention is to provide a molded cap with a crown and means for inversely altering the contour of the crown especially at its edge for changing the shape of the crown to conform more closely to the shape of the persons head who is wearing the cap without having any overlapping crown portions. This will permit one size of molded cap to have its crown size and shape altered to conform more closely to the shape of the individual wearers head, not normally attainable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a bottom plan view. of may cap.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the cap and is taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the cap and is taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2. The sweatband is not shown in FIG. 3 and dash double-dot lines indicate how the crown profile and edge can be altered by changing the effective length of the band.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In carrying out my invention, I provide a molded cap A that has an integral visor B, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The cap may be molded or pressure-formed from any appropriate material, such as Styrofoam, etc. The cap is provided with a sweatband indicated generally at C and the particular type used is the same as that disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No.

3,409,9l0, issued Nov. 12, 1968 on a sweatband for a sport cap and, therefore. only a brief description of the essential parts will be set forth. The sweatband is adjustable so as to conform to the size of the wearers head, and is secured to the inner surface of the cap crown by sweatband-supporting members D and E, see FIGS. I and 2. The sweatband and associate parts are not shown in FIG. 3 and the reason for this will be explained later. It will be noted from both FIGS. I and 2 that the sweatband is spaced inwardly away from the cap interior to ef feet a suspension between the head and the adjacent portion of the cap. The space between the sweatband and crown will permit the free flow of air around the head even when the cap is worn. The sweatband C, aside from providing an air space, has purposely been spaced inwardly and suspended separately from the crown shell G, because of the inability of the molded and rigid-type crown in itself to afford stable adjustable and conformity to the many head size and shape variations encountered.

The cap A has an aperture 1 extending upwardly from the cap edge 2 at the rear of the cap, see especially FIGS. 3 and 4. The aperture 1 can be of any desired shape and I have shown it as an inverted V. In addition, two other slots 3 and 4 are provided at the cap sides and these also extend upwardly from the cap edge 2. The slots 3 and 4 may be of any desired shape or number depending on the extent of mobility desired and l have shown them like inverted Vs but ofless width at their entrance ends than the slot 1. The aperture 1 is more pronounced than are the slots 3 and 4 because more mobility is intended in the area at the rear of the crown due to the greater resistance to contract the crown at that point rather than at the sides. Variations in width and length or positions of the slots 1, 3 and 4, can be made in accordance with the wishes of the person because they directly influence the extent by which the crown circumference can be functionally constricted or expanded. A crown adjusting band F encircles the cap A near the edge 2 and FIGS. and 4 illustrate how the band extends transversely across the slot 1, 3 and 4 in the cap. The function of the slits 1,3 and 4 allows a collapsing action effecting the breadth of the crown bore, and their inverted V width effects the length of the bore when restricted by the adjusting band F, both actions of which climax in a preferred size and shape at the discretion of the specific individual.

FIG. 1 shows the band F threaded through a pair of slots 5 and 5a that are provided in the cap adjacent to one side of the vizor B. The band F is also threaded through a second pair of slots 6 and 6a that are disposed adjacent to the other side of the vizor, see also FIG. 4. Both pairs of slots, 5, 5a and 6, 60 extend substantially perpendicular to the cap edge 2 and are disposed close thereto so that the band F is positioned adjacent to the cap edge 2 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pairs of slots 5, 5a and 6, 6a are not primarily for securing the band F to the crown G, since the band would remain in position even if it were just wrapped around the crown. FIG. I shows the slots 5a and 6a extending rearwardly at an angle from the inner to the outer surface of the crown. Because of this particular angle of the slots 5a and 6a, a shortening of the effective length of the band F will cause the band portions that extend rearwardly from these slots to exert a greater inward pressure upon both sides of the crown and draw these sides inwardly to reduce the width of the crown between its sides and adjacent to the crown edge 2, when used in combination with the slots 3 and 4.

The cap A has a crown G and the portion of the crown being bordered by the vizor B is reinforced by the vizor. Therefore, the portion of the adjustable band F that extends between the two slots 5 and 6, see FIG. I, will have no effect on constricting the crown portion lying between these two pairs of slots when the band F is shortened in its effective length for constricting the remaining portion of the crown along an area adjacent to the crown edge 2. The headpiece does not necessarily have to incorporate the vizor B. By omitting the vizor on the headpiece the contracting or expansion action can functionally be induced around the entire periphery of the crown by adjusting the band F, this depending on the slot positions and design of the headpiece. Both FIGS. 1 and 4 show the ends of the band adjustably connected together by a snap buckle H. I do not wish to be limited to any particular type of buckle, but FIG. I shows an end of the band F provided with a male snap member 7, see also FIG. 2. The other end of the same band is provided with a female snap member 8 that is adjustable along the band and is adapted to be removably connected to the male snap member 7. It is possible to move the female snap member along the band F for altering the effective length of the band when the two snap members 7 and 8 are interconnected.

The slots 1, 3 and 4 will permit the crown G of the cap A to be constricted or expanded along the edge 2 of the crown so that the cap circumference and contour will more closely resemble the contour of the head of the wearer as the individual desires. This inward pull of the band on the cap crown may even constrict the crown edge so that the elliptical area enclosed by the edge 2 will be less than a second elliptical area enclosed by the crown at a point nearer the top of the crown. In other words, if the first-mentioned elliptical area was lying in a plane that was flush with the crown edge 2, then the second elliptical plane would parallel the first plane and be spaced nearer the top of the crown and the ellipse formed by the intersection of the crown with the second plane would cover a greater area than that covered by the elliptical area defined by the crown edge 2 on the first plane. This will produce an inverse contour of the crown portion not normally obtainable because of the restrictions inherent in the molding process.

This feature is very important because it permits the caps to be cast from a mold, not shown, where the crown edge 2 of necessity covers a greater elliptical area than any other portion of the crown which permits the one piece molded cap to be withdrawn from a two part mold without entrapment. Afterwards, the cap edge 2 can be constricted by the band F and the lessening of the predetermined widths of the cap slots 1, 3 and 4 will permit this. Thus, the induced mobility allows one molded cap size to fit a greater variety of different head sizes more accurately, an advantage not normally obtainable.

Another advantage is derived from this invention and that is before the cap crown is constricted by the band F, the caps can be expanded and better nested one within the other for shipment and will take up far less space than if they could not be nested for storage or shipment. The nesting advantage in shipping is important in that the ratio of weight to bulk space determines the cost per pound rate formula imposed. The more weight per minimum bulk space, the less shipping cost per cap unit. This can be taken advantage of without forfeiting the desirable contours as allowed by my invention. It is possible for a user of the cap to voluntarily constrict the crown edge 2 to a lesser extent in summertime so as to space the edge farther away from the head and thus provide a greater space around the head for the air to circulate. Then, in winter time the band F may be adjusted to constrict the crown edge to a greater extent and draw it closer to the head for allowing less air to circulate between the cap crown and the head. The appearance of the cap when worn can be improved at the discretion of'the wearer by constricting the crown edge 2 to the desired extent so that the cap profile will more closely follow the individual head profile, and thereby dissipate the objectionable normal inverted potlike contour.

My complete inventive concept and intent is not limited to only constricting the cap by the band F. The principal object of the invention is to induce mobility not inherent in a molded or pressure formed type of headpiece by means of which an expansion as well as a contraction can be functionally initiated to vary the profile and circumference of the headpiece from the original immobile size and contour as dictated by the mold process. The expansion of the headpiece is induced by the internal pressure exerted against the interior sweatband-supporting members E and D which are arranged at the sides of the headpiece and on the interior surface thereof. The

sweatband-supporting members E and D include foam rubber side strips, not particularly indicated but are shown in detail in my US. Pat. No. 3,409,910. Expansion in the headpiece can also be induced by nesting a plurality of them one within the other. Although I refer to the cap as having slots 1, 3 and 4 or recesses, I wish these terms to include slits, cuts or slices.

1 do not wish to limit the headpiece to only a semirigid shell type structure, nor do I wish to limit it specifically for the purpose of protecting the wearer's head. Due to the molding requirements for producing the one-piece molded headpiece, the profile of the crown has its edge extending inversely away from the desired contour of the crown which preferably should be shaped to extend inwardly so that the crown profile would follow more closely the or vertical portion ofthe head profile covered by the headpiece. This end result of the desired contour for the headpiece crown cannot be achieved during one-picce-molding process because the headpiece can only be removed from the mold cavity without defacing it when the cavity has no restrictive areas. The amount of air space between the crown and the wearers head can be optionally changed according to the wishes of the person who wears the headpiece.

My headpiece with adjustable crown permits the one-piece forming of a headpiece by the mold or die cast process without forfeiture of desirable contours. Design contours and profiles are restricted within certain forming limitations to avoid en trapment risk which would impede extraction of the finished product from the mold without defacing its features or complicating the removal procedure not conducive to efficient mass production. Common referral parlance would be draw tolerance.

My invention permits to produce mechanically a curvature in the sides and back profiles of molded headwear that more normally coincides with the contours of the head, and which are inversely contrary to the necessary draw tolerance consideration.

My invention further provides a headpiece having functional mobility to better satisfy voluntarily the preferred requirements of the individual user. For example, it is possible for a person wearing the headpiece to relieve the crown-adjusting band tension in order to suspend the headpiece further away from the head for increased interior air flow and ventilation in hot climates. Also, the headpiece can be restricted by the adjustable band F to come closer to the wearers head or increased insulation during cold weather. A greater variety of headsize and shape variables can be more accurately fitted from a single invariable mold size, and thereby reduce the necessity for a multiplicity of molds of different sizes. The slots 5a and 6acan be positioned any place along the lower edge of the sides of the crown, this depending on the disposition of the greatest inward pressure desired.

I claim:

1. A one-piece semirigid headpiece including:

a. a crown portion having a plurality of slits extending upwardly from the edge of the crown; and

b. an adjustable band encircling the exterior surface of the crown and having portions extending across the slits, said band being adjustable in its effective length for altering the shape of the profile ofsaid crown portion as well as altering the circumference at the crown edge;

e. the front of the crown being free of any slits and of the slits of the semirigid crown being disposed at the rear of said crown and being in the shape of an inverted V, so that the rear portion of the crown can be altered in its profile to a greater extent than the side portions of the crown when the effective length of said adjustable band is shortened thereby overcoming the greater resistance normally instituted by the shorter radius at the rear of the crown,

d. the front portion of the crown has a pair of vertical slots at each side thereof with the rear slot in each pair being inclined at at angle so that the end of the inclined slot on the outer surface of the crown is disposed nearer to the said adjustable band having portions adjacent to said two pairs of slots, threaded through each pair so that the band will extend through the inclined slots to emerge on the outer surface of the crown, the adjustable ends of said band being arranged at the rear portion of the crown; whereby a change in the effective length of said band will cause the band to pull inwardly on the sides of the crown from the points of the inclined slots and rearwardly altering the crown at its periphery while altering the profile at the rear of the crown to a greater degree than at the sides of the crown because the V-shaped slit lessens to a greater degree the more pronounces resistance to contraction characteristics of the rear crown portion.

, The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which said molded headpiece has an integral visor at the front of the crown and lying between the two pairs of slots in the crown which by design prevents the front portion of the crown from being altered in its profile when the effective length of said adjustable band is altered for changing the shape of the crown profile.

. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which an adjustable sweatband is placed within said crown portion and adjacent to the crown edge; and

sweatband-supporting members connecting the sweatband to said crown and spacing said sweatband inwardly from the adjacent inner surface of said crown for permitting accurate adjustment to an individual head size and permitting a flow of air between the crown and the head.

. A one-piece molded semirigid headpiece including:

. said crown portion also having an additional slit on each side of the oval-shaped edge and of less width than the V- shaped slit and being disposed nearer to the inverted V- shaped slit than to the front portion of the crown;

the front portion of said crown being provided with a pair of vertical slots spaced from another pair of vertical slots with the rear slot in each pair being inclined at an angle so that the end of the inclined slot on the outer surface of the crown is disposed nearer to the rear of the crown than the end of the same slot on the inner crown surface;

. an adjustable band encircling the exterior surface of the crown and having portions extending across the slits, said band being adjustable in its effective length for altering the shape of the profile of said crown portion as well as altering the circumference at the crown edge; said band having portions adjacent to said two pairs of slots, threaded through each pair so that the band will extend through the inclined slots to emerge on the outer surface of the crown, the adjustable ends of said band being arranged at the rear portion of the crown;

. an adjustable sweatband within said crown portion and adjacent to the crown edge; and

sweatband-supporting members connecting the sweatband to said crown and spacing said sweatband inwardly from the adjacent inner surface of said crown for permitting accurate adjustment to an individual head size and permitting a flow of air between the crown and the head;

. whereby a change in the effective length of said crown encircling band will cause the band to pull inwardly on the sides and rear of the crown until the said additional slits have their adjacent edges moved toward each other and the adjacent edges of the inverted V-shaped slit are moved toward each other, the adjustable band pulling inwardly on the sides of the crown from the points of end accentuated by the inclined designed slots and rearwardly for altering the crown at its periphery while altering the profile at the rear of the crown to a greater degree than at the sides of the crown because the V-shaped slit lessens the resistance of the shorter radius rear crown portion, the headpiece having its only contact with the wearers head through the medium of said sweatband. 

1. A one-piece semirigid headpiece including: a. a crown portion having a plurality of slits extending upwardly from the edge of the crown; and b. an adjustable band encircling the exterior surface of the crown and having portions extending across the slits, said band being adjustable in its effective length for altering the shape of the profile of said crown portion as well as altering the circumference at the crown edge; c. the front of the crown being free of any slits and one of the slits of the semirigid crown being disposed at the rear of said crown and being in the shape of an inverted V, so that the rear portion of the crown can be altered in its profile to a greater extent than the side portions of the crown when the effective length of said adjustable band is shortened thereby overcoming the greater resistance normally instituted by the shorter radius at the rear of the crown; d. the front portion of the crown has a pair of vertical slots at each side thereof with the rear slot in each pair being inclined at an angle so that the end of the inclined slot on the outer surface of the crown is disposed nearer to the rear of the crown than the end of the slot on the inner crown surface; e. said adjustable band having portions adjacent to said two pairs of slots, threaded through each pair so that the band will extend through the inclined slots to emerge on the outer surface of the crown, the adjustable ends of said band being arranged at the rear portion of the crown; f. whereby a change in the effective length of said band will cause the band to pull inwardly on the sides of the crown from the points of the inclined slots and rearwardly altering the crown at its periphery while altering the profile at the rear of the crown to a greater degree than at the sides of the crown because the V-shaped slit lessens to a greater degree the more pronounced resistance to contraction characteristics of the rear crown portion.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which a. said molded headpiece has an integral visor at the front of the crown and lying between the two pairs of slots in the crown which by design prevents the front portion of the crown from being altered in its profile when the effective length of said adjustable band is altered for changing the shape of the crown profile.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which a. an adjustable sweatband is placed within said crown portion and adjacent to the crown edge; and b. sweatband-supporting members connecting the sweatband to said crown and spacing said sweatband inwardly from the adjacent inner surface of said crown for permitting accurate adjustment to an individual head size and permitting a flow of air between the crown and the head.
 4. A one-piece molded semirigid headpiece including: a. a crown portion having an oval-shaped edge with an inverted V-shaped slit extending upwardly from the edge and being disposed at the rear of the crown portion where the radius of the oval is shorter causing this portion to offer greater resistance to being constricted; b. said crown portion also having an additional slit on each side of the oval-shaped edge and of less width than the V-shaped slit and being disposed nearer to the inverted V-shaped slit than to the front portion of the crown; c. the front portion of said crown being provided with a pair of vertical slots spaced from another pair of vertical slots with the rear slot in each pair being inclined at an angle so that the end of the inclined slot on the outer surface of the crown is disposed nearer to the rear of the crown than the end of the same slot on the inner crown surface; d. an adjustable band encircling the exterior surface of the crown and having portions extending across the slits, said band being adjustable in its effective length for altering the shape of the profile of said crown portion as well as altering the circumference at the crown edge; said band having portions adjacent to said two pairs of slots, threaded through each pair so that the band will extend through the inclined slots to emerge on the outer surface of the crown, the adjustable ends of said band being arranged at the rear portion of the crown; e. an adjustable sweatband placed within said crown portion and adjacent to the crown edge; and f. sweatband-supporting members connecting the sweatband to said crown and spacing said sweatband inwardly from the adjacent inner surface of said crown for permitting accurate adjustment to an individual head size and permitting a flow of air between the crown and the head; g. whereby a change in the effective length of said crown encircling band will cause the band to pull inwardly on the sides and rear of the crown until the said additional slits have their adjacent edges moved toward each other and the adjacent edges of the inverted V-shaped slit are moved toward each other, the adjustable band pulling inwardly on the sides of the crown from the points of end accentuated by the inclined designed slots and rearwardly for altering the crown at its periphery while altering the profile at the rear of the crown to a greater degree than at the sides of the crown because the V-shaped slit lessens the resistance of the shorter radius rear crown portion, the headpiece having its only contact with the wearer''s head through the medium of said sweatband. 